Numbers 21:4-9

Revised Geneva Translation

⁴ Afterward, they departed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea to surround the land of Edom. And the soul of the people became very discouraged along the way.

⁵ And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, “Why have You brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”

⁶ Therefore the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, which bit the people, so that many of the people of Israel died.

⁷ Therefore the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned. For we have spoken against the LORD and against You. Pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ And the LORD said to Moses, “Make yourself a fiery serpent; and set it up for a sign, so that as many as are bitten may look upon it and live.”

⁹ So Moses made a serpent of brass and set it up for a sign. And when a serpent had bitten a man, then he looked to the serpent of brass and lived.